Belwin Beginning String Orchestra Kit #3: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Three distinct pieces in one kit means you build a complete concert without scrambling for variety. The progression from folk tune through chorale to dance form teaches students how musical character shifts through structural and stylistic choices, not just tempo changes. Cerulli's hand as both an arranger and veteran string teacher shows in how each piece sits on the instrument and how the dynamics actually matter to the phrasing.

The folk tune has the straightforward warmth of a melody you'd hum; the chorale asks for sustained line and genuine expression; the Allemande dances with rhythmic vitality. Together they form a mini-arc that keeps an audience engaged while showing your students how much variation lives within Grade 2 possibilities.

Grade 2 string orchestras preparing a concert or festival performance. This kit works equally well for groups still building fundamental skills and ensembles ready to explore contrasting musical styles within a single rehearsal season.

• Balance the folk tune's melody between first and second violins; resist the urge to let firsts dominate the opening phrases so that the dialogue between parts stays conversational.
• Shape the chorale through careful attention to breath points and phrase endings rather than dramatic tempo shifts. Students hear the difference between genuine line and mechanical note-counting.
• Let the Allemande's rhythmic drive come from the lower strings locking together; once cellos and basses establish their character, upper strings can play with more freedom on top.

Open a concert with the Austrian Folk Tune to settle the audience, place the Chorale in the middle section for contrast and breath, and close with the Allemande's energy. Alternatively, program just one or two pieces alongside repertoire from other composers if you need to fill a shorter time slot or want to mix and match across multiple kits.

• Dynamic shaping and phrase awareness across multiple musical styles
• Rhythmic precision in both simple and dance-like meters
• Balance and dialogue between melody and accompanying parts
• Sustained legato in slow chorale writing
• Ensemble entrances and synchronized articulation